My Celluloid Fix: Overlord
Britain’s Imperial War Museum
(1975)
***
Overlord is one of my favorite films in the genre of wartime cinema–a brooding meditation on the destructive forces behind war. It is directed by Stuart Cooper, who initially intended on directing a documentary that would commemorate the soldiers who fought in the historic D-day battle. But when he rifled through the amazing footage of British soldiers training and the startling barrage from fighter planes, he felt compelled to tell his own fictional story, a third of which was made of actual archival material. The film, Overlord tells the story of Tom Beddows (as played by Brian Stirner), a young soldier whose uncertain future was leading up to battle. What struck me about this film is how utterly human and vulnerable the soldier was in the wake of a situation that is out of his control and could lead to certain death.

A visually stunning film that is lensed by John Alcott, Stanly Kubrick’s longtime cinematographer. It can now be enjoyed in the newly remastered version on Criterion Collection for its brooding contemplation on the destructive powers of the war machine–that can resonate with anyone today.

via Sylvia Adams, 30 July 2008 3:25pm | |